Rotatable support for cylinders



6, 1954 c. N. ARONSON ROTATABLE SUPPORT FOR CYLINDERS Filed June 9, 19505 Sheets-Sheet l Ina/"en %07' Char/es Al Ara/15012 1954 c. N. ARONSONROTATABLE SUPPORT FOR CYLINDERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1950 g lm z m x L a nm n W 0 R MW w M J Feb. 16, 1954 c. N. ARONSON ROTATABLESUPPORT FOR CYLINDERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 9, 1950 In we 71 20 1'Char/e: N Ara/75012 c. N. ARONSON 2,669,364 ROTATABLE SUPPORT FORCYLINDERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 16, 1954 Filed June 9, 1950 Q Q w mm Q wIn 121: n in r Char/e5 /V. Ara/2500 ,5 ,QQM

Feb. 16, 1954 Filed June 9, 1950 C. N. ARONSON ROTATABLE SUPPORT FORCYLINDERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Char/e5 /V. Ara/25m Patented Feb. 16, 1954UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to work supporting and rotating apparatus andparticularly to means for supporting a cylindrical or partiallycylindrical drum or tank or the like for rotation generally about itsaxis.

A fairly common problem in the fabrication of large sheet metalcylinders, drums or tanks is encountered in supporting them duringvarious fabricating steps as, for instance, when welding about or alongthe periphery of such a drum or cylinder. It is essential that thesupport provide for rotation of the drum or cylinder to bring variousportions thereof to desired working zones.

The walls of cylindrical workpieces of this general nature arefrequently so thin in relation to their size and general bulk as to bereadily dented by any localized pressure and accordingly the provisionof suitable and proper supporting means must take this factor intoaccount. A common method of supporting such cylinders or drums is toprovide a pair of spaced parallel horizontal shafts or rotatable rollsand cradle the periphery of the drum upon and between such shafts orrolls. In many cases this expedient is inadequate and denting,cavitation or buckling of the workpiece results.

In fact it is conventional practice in many instances to provide anextra supporting or reinforcing ring secured to the tank or c linder forthe sole purpose of providing extra strength to avoid denting. After thecylinder or tank has been operated upon in the conventional parallelroll apparatus referred to above, this supporting or reinforcing ring isremoved. The waste of time, effort, and material involved in thisprocedure is obvious.

The present invention provides a support for a cylinder or drum whereinthe weight of the workpiece is proportionately distributed across alarge supporting area and wherein, despite this distribution, the rotaryworkpiece is so supported that it is constrained against rocking orswaying or any movement other than mere rotation about its own or apredetermined axis.

According to the present invention a pair of rolls in the nature ofsprocket wheels are provided with special roller chains which provide alink belt or chain belt with the axes of the sprocket wheels paralleland in horizontal alignment but adjustable to permit ready variation intheir spacing. In this way a support is provided whereby a drum or othercylindrical workpiece of considerable size is supported along aconsiderable portion of the lower part of its periphery while at thesame time it is positively cradled between the portions of the link beltor chain belt where the drum or cylinder is substantially in tangentialcontact with the sprocket wheels. The arrangement is such that byaccurately adjusting the spacing of the pairs of sprocket wheels theforces exerted against the peripheral wall of the workpiece may besubstantially the same at the sprocket wheels as at the intermediateportions where only the armate chain belt loop itself is engagingagainst the drum periphery in supporting relationship.

Further, the apparatus of the present invention provides a support ofthe foregoing general description wherein the cooperating drivingsprocket wheels may be selectively rotated or locked against rotationand, in either case, the drive is imparted to the chain belt or linkbelt through its lower, generally straight side, so that the drivingimpulse has no tendency to lift the workpiece by reason of a tighteningof the upper portion of the chain belt or link belt when driving forceis applied.

The apparatus of the present invention is such that the lightest gaugetanks may be supported and worked upon without damage thereto and thecapacity of the apparatus is atthe same time ample to support heavy walltanks. The available tractive force for both driving and braking is suchthat the unbalanced loads due to heavy overhanging or eccentric parts onthe workpiece, which are frequently met with, are handled withoutdifiiculty. The combined sprocket wheel and chain belt support afford upto of continuous peripheral contact with the workpiece. Once theapparatus is adjusted for a workpiece of a particular size any number ofduplicate workpieces may be handled without further adjustment. Theroller chain arrangement of the support is subject to no appreciablestretch which would, of course, upset the adjustment.

Various mechanical modifications and departures may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. It is to be understood thatthe specific form illustrated in the drawings is described in detail inthe following specification and is by way of example only, and that theinvention is limited only as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general perspective view of one form of the apparatus of thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally on the line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally on the line 44 of Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 3;and

Fig. 6 is a schematic electrical diagram of the control circuits of theapparatus.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings like characters ofreference denote like parts, and, referring to the general perspectiveview, Fig. 1, the numeral I designates a cylindrical workpiece or drumsupported near its opposite ends in a pair of supports designatedgenerally by the numerals H and 12, the supports being spaced in thedirection of the axis of tank ill. The support H is a driving support,and the support [2 is merely an idler support. In the form shown,support I l includes drive and brake means which cooperate to impartcontrolled rotative movement to tank lllor hold the latter againstrotation in any desired angular position. The support [2 is identicalwith the support I I, excepting for the omission of the means fordriving the sprockets, and, accordingly, a detailed description of thesupport I i will suflice for both. There is. no reason why more than oneidler support may not be used with one driving support in the case oflong tanks and, under special circumstances, the use of two drivingsupports may be desirable.

The driving support designated generally H is shown in detail in Figs. 2through and includes a pair of sprocket wheel elements it and M. Thesprocket l3 andits general supporting means is shown in detail in Fig.4, while the sprocket M and its general supporting and drivingarrangement is shown in detail in Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectionalview through the driving and control arrangement for sprocket H butexemplifies thedriving arrangement for both of the sprockets l3 and I4,excepting that the sprocket I l of Figs. 2 and 3 and its driving meansare mounted for adjustment toward and away from, sprocket [3 while thelatter need not be adjustably supported.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, sprocket M has a drive shaft 18 whichisjournaled in a pair of bearings 19' and 2 0 which are supported,respectively, on a pair of I -beam members 2! and 22, which rest upon apair of base channels 23 and 24. I-beams 2i and 22 are held in fixedparallel spaced relation by means of tie rods 25, and channels 23 and 24are held in fixed, spaced, parallel relation with respect to each otherby end channels 2! and 28, which may be welded thereto.

A transmission casing 30 is fixed to I-beam 2 I, and an extension ofsprocket shaft It extends into casing 30, where it has fixed thereto adriving gear 3 l. Gear 3| meshes with a drive pinion 32, which is fixedto a stub shaft 33. A worm wheel 35; has anti-friction bearing in onewall of casing 30 as at 36 and is fixed to a sleeve 3'! in which stubshaft 33 is free to rotate. The right hand end of stub shaft 33 asviewed in Fig. 2 has anti-friction bearing in the opposite wall ofeasing at, as at 38.

' In Fig. 2 the numeral 46 designates a clutch which may be aconventional single plate dry \dis clutch of the kind commonly used inautomotive-wahicles and haft 33 and sleeve 3'! extend into the clutchczfiihg for driving engagement with the driving and driven elements,respectively, of the clutch. It is believed that the design andconstruction of such clutches is well-. known to those skilled in themechanical arts shaft 64 carrying a sprocket 65.

and requires no further illustration. In Fig. 2 the numeral 4|designates the usual clutch shifting yoke, and a control lever 42 forthe yoke M has anti-friction bearing in an extension of transmissioncasing as at 43.

A driving worm 50 for worm wheel is fixed to a drive shaft element 5:which has bearings 52 and 53 fixed within casing 30 and which extendsoutwardly of casing 30 as shown in Fig. 3, where it connects with oneend of a universal joint 55, the other end of which is connected to oneend of a tube 56. Tube 56 contains an internally splined collar orsleeve 51, and an externally splined shaft 58 is axially slidabletherein. Shaft 58 extends to the left as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4 whereit terminates in a universal joint 59, by means of which it is connectedto a worm shaft 60.

7 In Fig. 4 the numeral 62 designates a transmission casing for thedriving and braking mechanism of sprocket l3, which is the same astransmission casing 30 of Figs. 2 and 3, excepting that it includes inaddition an antifriction bearing $3, in which is journaled a drive Amating sprocket E6 is fixed to worm shaft 60, and a driving chain 6'1connects the sprockets. In Fig. 4

v the drive, including worm 5t and the other transmission parts leadingto sprocket 13 are identical with those described in connection withFig. 2, and, accordingly, like characters of reference have been appliedthereto.

A supporting plate 10 is welded or otherwise preferably also to one orboth of the side channels 23 and 2% for supporting driving means,including an electric driving motor 1! and an infinitely variable speedreducing gear box '12. The latter may comprise an infinitel variabletransmission well-known in the art as a Graham transmission. In Fig. ithe drive shaft fi l comprises the output shaft of the Grahamtransmission. It will be seen from the foregoing that either or both ofthe sprocket wheels i3 and I4 may be driven from motor M if itsassociate clutch fill is engaged.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, an extension coil spring 15 acting betweenthe lower end of clutch operating lever 42 and a fixed part oftransmission casing 38 urges lever '32 in a counterclockwise directicnas viewed in Fig. 2, or to a position of clutch disengagement. In Fig. 2the lever 42 is shown in a position in which clutch 36 is engaged, andthis is brought about by means of an electroinagnet, designated l! inFig. 3, whose armature 78 may engage the lower end of a flexibletransmission chain 59 which passes over an idler sprocket 8| supportedby casing 38, the other end of chain 39 being connected to the upper endof lever 52. Energization of electromagnet l! pulls the upper end ofclutch operating lever 42 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, to engagethe clutch and establish. driving connection between assembly fromchannels 23 and 24 and guide the former for movement along the channels.

aeeaace Such adjusting movement is attained by means illustrated in Fig.3, which includes a bearing bracket which may be welded to the undersides of inner guide bars 84 and 85. A screw element 9| hasanti-friction bearing at its opposite ends in bearing lugs 93 and 94fixed to bracket 90, the anti-friction bearings being recessed asillustrated to prevent axial movement of screw 9| relative to bracket90. An internally threaded lug 95 is fixed to a bracket 06, which, inturn, is fixed to end channel 2'1 of the lower supporting structure.

The screw 3| has a head portion 31 for engagement by means of a wrenchor crank, and it will be clear from the foregoing that rotation of screwI 9| by manipulation of head portion 91 will cause the screw 9| to movelongitudinally relative to fixed lug 95 and, accordingly, adjust theI-beam members 2I and 22 along the tops of channels 23 and 24. Thislongitudinal adjusting movement does not interfere with the drive toboth of the worm wheels of the sprockets I3 and I4 by reason of thetelescoping spline connection between shaft 58 and tube 56, aspreviously described. Only about four inches of lineal adjustment arefound necessary to accommodate a range of cylindrical tanks varying indiameter from five to ten feet.

The chain belt or link belt proper which directly supports the tank isshown in transverse section in Fig. 5 and is further illustrated in Fig.3. The chain comprises conventional links I03 and side plates IOIpivoted in end-to-end relation. Between the side plates Iill and thelinks I00 are pivoted angle brackets I02 which are generallyco-extensive with links I00 in a direction longitudinally of the chain.The upper portions of brackets I02 diverge to provide a pair ofco-planar seats for a rubber block or pad I03 which may be rivetedthereto, as shown in Fig. 5. The rubber blocks I 03 are of sufiicientresilience to avoid denting or otherwise marring the work and to providea high degree of frictional tractive driving and braking engagementtherewith.

As shown in Fig. 2 a plate I I0 is welded between channels 23 and 24 andextends along for substantially the distance between the centers ofsprocket wheels I3 and I4 to support the lower portion of the link beltor chain belt,-the opposite ends of the plate H0 being flared downwardlyto permit the pads I03 of the link belt or chain belt to smoothly engagethe top surface of plate H0. The upper surface of plate III! preferablyhas secured thereto a layer of canvas coated with graphite to reducefriction.

Reference will now be had to Fig. 6, which shows schematically theelectrical control circuits for driving motor I! and the solenoids foroperating the clutches. In the present example a reversible three-phasealternating current motor is employed. The solenoid for operating clutch40 of sprocket wheel I4 is designated 11, as previously noted, and inFig. 6 the solenoid for operating the clutch for sprocket wheel I3 isdesignated H2.

The numerals II3, H4, and I I5 in Fig. 6 designate the three leads of aconventional three-wire alternating current power source, and theapplication of power to the controls and to electric motor II isgenerally by means of what is known in the art as a rotary drum switch,which has forward and reverse positions and an intermediate oifposition. For convenience of illustration and understanding, this rotarydrum switch is shown schematically in Fig. 6 as comprising a switch barI20 for controlling two groups of four 6 switches each. The switches ofone group are designated I2I, I22, I23, and I24 in Fig. 6, and theswitches of the second group are designated I25, I26, I21, and I28.

When switch operating bar I20 is in the intermediate off positionillustrated in Fig. 6, all of the aforesaid eight switches are open.When it is moved to the left, as shown in Fig. 6, the switches I2Ithrough I24 are closed, and when it is moved to the right as shown inFig. 6, the switches I25 through I28 are closed. The three motor leadsare designated I30, I3I, and I32 in Fig. 6. When switch bar I20 is movedto the left, it is in the forward driving position. wherein, with theclutch for sprocket wheel I3 engaged, sprocket wheel I3 will be drivenin a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, to rotate drum I0 in acounterclockwise direction.

In this position of the switch bar I20, conductor I I3 of the powersupply is connected to motor lead I32 through switch I 2!; conductor II4 of the power supply is connected to the motor lead I3I through switchI23; and conductor H5 of the power supply is connected to motor lead I30by Way of switch I22. At the same time supply conductor H4 is connectedto one side of electromagnet II2 through switch I24, and the other sideof the electromagnet is permanently connected directly to supplyconductor H5 so that the clutch for sprocket wheel I I3 will be engaged.In normal use the clutch for sprocket wheel l4 will be disengaged underthese conditions.

If the position of switch control bar I20 be reversed and the switchesI25 through I23 be closed, then conductor I I3 will be connected tomotor lead I30 through switch I 26; conductor I I4 will be connected tomotor lead I3I by means of switch I21; and conductor II5 will beconnected to motor lead I 32 by way of switch I25. At the same time theelectromagnet l! for engaging clutch 40 of sprocket wheel I4 will beenergized by way of conductor H4 and switch I28, the other side ofelectromagnet I'l being likewise permanently connected directly tosupply conductor H5.

In Fig. 6 the electromagnets ll and H2 have alternative energizingcircuits whereby both are simultaneously energized regardless of thedirection of operation of motor II and even if the latter be at restwith the switch bar I23 in the position illustrated in Fig. 6. Motorlead II 4, in addition to connecting with switches I23, I24, I21 andI28, has a branch conductor I35 which divides into conductors I 36 andI37 which lead to the terminals at one side of a double pole knifeswitch I38.

The terminals at the other side of this switch have conductors I39 andI40 which lead to one side of the electromagnets TI and H2,respectively, the other side of each of the electromagnets, aspreviously stated, being permanently connected to power supply conductorI I5 by a conductor I4I which serves the electromagnets I1 and H2regardless of whether they are energized through the switches I24 manualswitch I38.

From the foregoing it will be seen that, with knife switch I38 open, theenergization of motor II to drive sprocket wheel I3 in a clockwisedirection automatically engages its clutch by energization ofelectromagnet H2, the clutch 40 of sprocket wheel I4 being disengaged.Energization of motor II in the opposite direction to rotate sprocketwheel I4 in a counterclockwise and 1 2 01? through direction.automatically "engages its clutch 40 through electromagnet 11, theclutch of'sprocket wheel I3 remaining disengaged.

If the two clutches be simultaneously engaged through closure of switchI38 with switch bar 120 ina neutral position andzmotor ll de energized,then the clutches serve as an efiective locking brake, by reason of theirreversible worm drives leading to the clutches. If both clutches beclosed simultaneously with the motor 1! operating in either direction,then both sprocket wheels will be synchronously driven to impart extradriving force. Both the braking and the double driving function areimportant in properly supporting and controlling tanks having heavyoverhang or other-substantial and considerable eccentric masses orforces tending to produce undesiredrotation or to resist desiredrotation.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for supporting and rotating'cylindrical workpiecescomprising a pair of aligned, horizontally spaced driving wheels, abelt-like element looped about the driving wheels with sufficient slackto provide. an arcuate upper extent between the driving wheels, meansfor adjustingone of the driving wheels toward and away from the otherwhereby said upper extent of the belt-like element forms an arcconforming to the radius of the'workpiece and substantially tangent tothe driving wheels, and power means for selectively driving either ofthe driving wheels, said means including an electric motor andtransmission means extending therefrom to both of said driving wheels,and a clutch in said transmission means for each of said driving wheels.

2. Apparatus for supporting and rotating cylindrical workpiecescomprising a pair ofaligned, horizontally spaced driving wheels, abelt-like element looped about the driving wheels with suincient slackto provide an arcuate upper extent between the driving wheels, means foradjusting one of the driving wheels toward and away from the otherwhereby said upper extent of the beltlike element forms an arcconforming to the radius of the workpiece and substantially tangent tothe driving wheels, and power means for selectively driving either ofthe driving wheels, said means including a reversible electric motor andtransmission means extending therefrom to both of said driving wheels, anormally disengaged clutch in said transmission means for each of saiddriving wheels, and'means operable automatically upon operation of themotor in one direction for engaging one of said clutches and uponoperation of the motor in the opposite direction for engaging the otherof said clutches.

3. Apparatus for supporting and rotating cylindrical workpiecescomprisinga pair of aligned, horizontally spaced driving wheels, abelt-like element looped about the driving wheels with sufficient slackto provide an arcuate upper extent between the driving wheels, means foradjusting one of the driving wheelstoward and away fromv the otherwhereby said upperextentof the belt-like element forms an arc conformingto the radius of theworkpiece and substantially tangent to the iiidriving wheels; and power means-torv selectively driving either of thedriving wheels, said means including an electric motor and transmissionmeans extending therefrom to both of said driving wheels, clutch-brakemeans in said transmission means for each of said driving wheels,control means for said clutch-brake means for engaging the same duringmotor operation for r0- tating the workpiece and for selectivelyengaging the same when the motor is inoperative to act as a brake on thedriving wheels.

4. Apparatus for supporting and rotating cylindrical workpiecescomprising a pair of aligned, horizontally spaced driving wheels, abelt-like element looped about the driving wheels with sufficient slackto provide an arcuate upper extent between the driving wheels, means foradjusting one of the driving wheels toward and away from the otherwhereb said upper extent of the beltlike element forms an arc conformingto the radius of the workpiece and substantially tangent to the drivingwheels, and power means for selectively driving either of the drivingwheels, said means including a reversible electric motor andtransmission means extending therefrom to both of said driving wheels, aclutch in said transmission means for each of said driving wheels, andclutch operating means operable automatically upon operation of themotor in either direction for engaging the clutch of the driving wheelwhich will rotate with its upper portion moving toward the arc portionof the belt-like element.

5. Apparatus for supporting and rotating cylindrical workpiecescomprising a pair of supports spaced in the direction of the axis of theworkpieces and each comprising a pair of aligned, horizontally spaceddriving wheels, a belt-like element looped about the driving wheels ofeach support with sufficient slack to provide an arcuate upper extentbetween the driving wheels, means for adjusting corresponding drivingwheels of each support toward and away from its related driving wheelwhereby said upper extents of the belt-like elements form arcsconforming to the radius of the workpiece and substantially tangent tothe driving wheels, and power means associated with one of said supportsfor selectively driving either of the driving wheels of said support,said power means including an electric motor and transmission meansextending therefrom to both of said driving wheels, and a clutch in saidtransmission means for each of the driving wheels of said one support.

CHARLES N. ARONSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,766,963 Strupe June 24, 1930 1,777,089 Jansen Sept. 30, 19301,802,917 Kennedy Apr. 28, 1931 1,871,430 Snow Aug. 9, 1932 1,905,387Kirkwood Apr. 25, 1933 2,463,383 Hokanson Mar. 1, 1949 2,514,293 Rumsey,Jr. July 4, 1950

